Beginning next week (October 15, 2012) if conditions are favorable, fire managers plan to begin the 7,300 acre San Juan prescribed burn, located 3-5 miles northeast of Jemez Springs, NM. Between 2,500 acres are expected to be treated each day. Prescribed burning is the managed application of fire to wildland fuels (woody material) under specified conditions, within predetermined boundaries in an effort to reduce hazardous fuels, provide community protection, and restore forest health.

Forest Roads 10, 135, 136 and 269 will be closed during the prescribed burn. These road closures will be implemented with barricades and signs.

Smoke from the burn will be visable from La Cueva, Jemez Springs, Jemez Pueblo, Canon, Ponderosa, San Ysidro, Zia Pueblo, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho and areas off I-25 and NM550. Smoke is expected to settle into lower elevations and in drainage areas during the evenings, but will lift by mid-morning.

More information may be obtained by calling Santa Fe National Forest Public Affairs Office: 505-438-5321.

Information and text courtesy of Santa Fe National Forest, Lawrence M. Lujan.